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SARAJEVO, June 13 (FENA) - Center for the Promotion of Civil Society (CPCD), together with partner organizations from Albania - Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) and North Macedonia - Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM), in six countries of the Western Balkans, is implementing a project called SMART Balkans.
The project is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway for more than 17 million euros (34 million KM). During the four years, 85 percent of these funds will be distributed to strengthen civil society organizations and networks in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia through seven types of available grants specially designed for different aspects of activity to strengthen participatory democracies into the Euro-Atlantic integration process.
SMART Balkans project manager Dajana Cvjetković told FENA that this is one of the largest projects ever awarded by a donor to domestic civil society organizations.
"We are happy that CPCD is implementing the project with partner organizations, as well as that we have received the trust of donors. I am sure we will justify the trust and implement this project in the best possible way," said Cvjetković.
She stated that they will hold a meeting on Wednesday with all the organizations that received grants in the last call and award nine grants in the total amount of more than 450,000 euros.
She added that they have projects that last from 12 to 18 months, depending on the idea, and that those projects are very different.
"Some projects are on the judiciary and some focus on creating certain documents that will enable public management bodies to operate more transparently and take greater responsibility. The largest number of projects are in the field of security and stability. The whole SMART Balkans project wants to improve security, stability and better connectivity between the six countries of the Western Balkans," said Cvjetković.
She announced that the CPCD is organizing the Second National Conference of the SMART Balkans project on Wednesday in Banja Luka on the topic "Why does the government award grants to civil society organizations?".
The accompanying panel discussion aims to review the reasons and purpose of public calls, as well as their role in the overall social and economic development of the country, and planned strategic development.
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